Neil Kirby, owner of Eastbourne-based Langham Hotel, has been given a Lifetime Achievement award at the Eastbourne Business Awards Dinner at The Grand Hotel.
Kirby, 65, has run the Langham for 12 years and is celebrating his 50th year in the hospitality industry.
He is also the author of Celebrity Hotel, a memoir which looks back at his career where he began as a pot washer.
Kirby said: “I am very proud to have won this award in my 50th anniversary year of being in the hospitality industry. It is wonderful to have been nominated for this award to help me celebrate and remember this. I am still working 70 hours a week and running my hotel with my wife Wendy. I still absolutely love the industry.
He added: “This year we have also run some events that local schools and education providers have gotten involved with to inspire others to join the industry. This included a MasterChef style bake off and we have many events planned next year to continue supporting this too.”
